LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1460, 28 January 1886, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Geraldine School Committee, The usual monthly meeting of this Committee will lake place to-morrow evening at halfpast seven. Masonic. —The regular monthly meeting of Lodge Southern Star, No. 619, S.C., Geraldine, takes place this evening at 7.30 o’clock. Temuka Rules. —Members are reminded that a Government inspection parade will be held in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, tonight, at 7 o’clock. Mb Stead. —On Mr Stead, of " Pull Mall Gazette disclosures ” fame, being released from prison, a most enthusiastic meeting was held to welcome him. Eicubsioh Trains. —The returning excursion trains passed through yesterday, that going to Dunedin passing Temuka about 1.30 p.m, and that to Christchurch, about 6.30. Rule Match. —The match between teams •elected from the Temuka and Timaru Rifles takes place at the butts of the former to-day. We published the names of the members comprising the team* in our Lst issue. South Okaei Eivee Boaed.— Persons owing rates to this Board should pay them at once, and thus avoid expense and unpleasantness, as legal proceedings wd) be taken for their recovery on the 4th February. Woodbury. —The meeting which was to have been held at Woodbury on Monday evening to take steps to carry out the annual race meeting, had to be postponed on account of the weather, and will now be held on Saturday evening, at the same time and place. Admiral Teton—Admiral Tryon and party passed through on board a special train at 1 o’lloek on Tuesday. He made a stay of half an hour at Timaru and then proceeded on to Dunedin. On his leturn to Christchurch be will be entertained at a luncheon got up by the citizens.

School Treat at South Obabi.—The annual treat and distribution of prizes in connection with the South Orari School takes place on Friday next at the racecourse. Children are to ho at the school at 1 o’clock, whrn they will marched to the course. Parents and friend* arc invited to attend, and should the weather be fine there will doubtless be a large gathering. German Interests in Samoa. The Government have cabled to the AgentGeneral instructions to continue negotiations with Germany for the purchase of German claims in Samoa, but in no way to commit the Goveinment. It is the intention of the Government to obtain full particulars as to the purchase,so as to enable them to bring proposals before Parliament next session. In reply to the last cablegram sent to England by Government re the action of Germany at Samoa, the Secretary of State for the Colonies cables that Germany has given an assurance that they have no intention of annexing the Island. A Rahe Bird.—Yesterday morning Mr Ferriman, of East street, Ashburton, showed us (Guardian) a veritable rara avis in the shape of a domestic fowl. This extraordinary creature lias the head, comb and watlle of a mule bird, and presents a general masculine appearance, although its body, tail and feathers resemble those of a hen. Its performances, however, are even more remarkable than ils appearance. It has laid a number of eggs—most, of them with soft shells — and has intermittently, performed other functions belonging to the females of its species. It can crow, and while it cultivates the acquaintance of the hens of the yard, it vigorously repels any advances that may be nude towards it by the male birds with which it is associated. Native Matters.—Government have received a telegram from the Native Agent at the Thames to (he effect that Tawhaio was there attempting to influence the natives to put their lands in his trust, but they have declined. An ambassador from Tawhaio also visited Tauranga on the same errand, but mot with the same success as the King. The Kawai natives have expressed a wish to have the land surveyed and put through the Native Land Court, and Government have issued instructions for a survey to be made. The Native Minister is devising a scheme for locating (he landless natives ,as ha is convinced that most of the disturbances are caused by bands of such natives passing from place to place and following anyone who declares himself a prophet. The Attempted Bank Robbery.— A telegram from Melbourne dated January 20 states the three men charged with attempted robbery at the Commercial Bank, Colling, wood, bare been arrested, namely, Hopkins, Murray and Alfred Beal. Murray acknowledged that ho was one of the gang, and that when the manager fired his revolver, he ininstinctively put up h : s arm to shield his head, and received a shot in the arm, for which he was treated in the Melbourne Hospital. The medical officer remembering the incident of his treatment there, and mentioning the matter to the police, it was to this Murray’s arrest was chiefly duo. The inquest on the body of Mrs Ravenscroft was held on the 19th. During the inquiry the police produced a full confession made by the prisoner Hopkins, of the plan of the attempted robbery. The Jury found—“ That the deceased met her death through a gunshot wound inflicted by Mr Hill by misadventure, and that Mr Hill was fully justified in using firearms to defend his own life and his employers' property.” Milk Preserving.—On November 16th (says the Melbourne Argus of January 6th), Mr F. J. Stephen left at this office a bottle of milk, preserved by a new process, which was described as follows : —“ Clean thoroughly a glass bottle, milk from the cow into the bottle until full to overflowing. Cork the bottle, and tie it down securely. Place the bottle in a veisel of water and boil. (To prevent the bottle knocking against the side of the vessel the bottle should be covered with a straw capsule). After which remove the vessel of water with the bottle, and let ihe whole become cool. It need not be kept in a cool place to secure its remaining fresh.” Testerday the bottle left with us by Mr Stephen was opened, and a gentleman of large experience in dairy farming tasted the milk and declared it to be as fresh as if milked from the cow the day before. The color was preserved, and there was not the slightest indication that it had been scalded, Mr Stephen, in his letter, drew attention to the value of the process to persons about to travel, and to others requiring a constant supply of fresh milk, and the test has proved that for six weeks at any rate the condition of the milk submitted to the process is so well maintained that it is impossible to distinguish between it and new milk. Entertainment. —Mies Georgia Smithson with her company, appeared in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, on Tuesday evening, and in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, last night. She bad a small audience in Temuka, a fact which may in a great measure be attributed to the way in which the business was managed. There was a large crowd collected about 8 o’clock, but as the prices of admission was made 2s and 3s they refused to pay it and went away. About 8 o’clock someone thumped the piano three times, and that was all the music played until about 8.25, when the play commenced. The man at the door had no tickets to give for the money ; there was no one to show people to seats ; there were no programmes —in fact everything was conducted in the most slovenly way possible. When any one spoke to the very civil young fellow who took the money at the door, he trembled and said it was no use offering any suggestions to Miss Smithson. As soon as the scene-shifter lifted the curtain, and Miss Smithson made her appearance, the reason for the “ fear and trembling” of the doorkeeper became apparent. She commenced her programme by opening fire on those who had suggested that it was advisable to let persons in for a shilling, and made some boastful reference to the character of her entertainment, and to her capability to pay her debts. She made some comments on the fact that the front seats were nearly empty, animadverted on the absence of appreciation for such an artiste as ehe was, and after having got rid of what looked very much like bad temper, made a tremendous effort to look pleasant. She then proceeded with her entertainment, the leading feature of which is her capacity for changing dresses. Rid her of this and she is not worth much. She certainly changed with great rapidity, but not one-tenth so 1 rapidly as Macabe, Duval, and others we .have seen in the same business. She represented a Lancashire lass, “Jo,” and one or two other characters exceedingly well, but her representation of a lady was such es wo would not care to characterise. There was nothing indelicate about anything she said or did, but her manner was not pleasant, to say the least of it. If she cut singing and the lady parts out, and adhered to low comedy, she would leave pleasanter recollections of herself behind her, In the farce she played at the close she represented a Scotch fishwife splendidly, Mr Aspinall, who acted the part of the negro servant, deserves praise for his excellent and consistent representation of the part throughout. She will repeat the entertainment this evening in Geraldine,

Town Imfrovemekts,—■'.iood progress is being made with Messrs J. Mandril and Oo.’s new saleyard* at Geraldine and, most of the work of putting in the posts h nearly completed. In ?pite of quiet times a few new buildings continue to go up. Mr Bowkelt has erected a cottage on his section in Peel street, and Mr T. Fyfe, cabinetmaker, has almost completed a commodious shop in the main street in the lower township. As wo notified in a prerious issue tenders are being called for patting up new shop on the site of those lately destroyed by fire, and we expect shortly to hear of arrangements being concluded for the erection of the Volunteer Hall. “ Thug Manliness.” The “ Ride of Death,” the second of the Rev. J. Holland’s addresses was delivered on Tuesday evening to a large and representative congregation. Ihe address was interspersed with stirring instances of heroism, from which suitable analogies were drawn, and the manly feelings of his hearers were appealed to, that they might extend to women, no matter of what degree they might be, those tokens of courtesy and sympathy which were their due. At the close of the meeting some thirty of thosi present subscribed to the resolutions of the White Cross Army, Last night the subject was “ True Manliness,” and the attendance was somewhat larger than on the previous evening, all present being apparently thoroughly interested. To-night the last of the series, “ Damaged Pearls,” will be delivered. Nsveb Return,—lt is said that one out of every lour real invalids who go to foreign countries to recover health never return, except Bs a oorpse. The undertakers, next to the hotel-keepers, hare the most profitable business. This excessive mortality may be prevented and patients saved and cured under the care of friends and loved ones at home, if they will but use American Go’s Hop Bitters inliino. Read Artvt. SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS, South Orari River Board—Notice re rates. Temuka Road Board—lnvito applications for the position of clerk. South Orari School—Treat and distribution of prizes to-morrow. Miss Georgia Smithson’s Company Appear at Geraldine to-night, Temuka Linseed Company—lnvito tenders for threshing 200 acres of linseed. J. Buxton, Rangitata Island—Announces that a small pony has strayed to his farm. R. H. Postlethwaite—Notifies that poison is laid for dogs on the Raukapuka estate, and that all dogs caught will be shot.